Format of the Dissertation
The Publication
Manual of
the American Psychological Association (APA; the most recent edition) should be
consulted for format guidelines. The
dissertation will consist of an Introduction (Chapter 1), a minimum of three
data-based manuscripts (Chapters 2, 3, 4), Conclusions and Future Directions
(Chapter 5), References, and Appendices (when appropriate). Each of these components is described
below:
CHAPTER 1
Chapter 1 consists of an introduction
to the entire scope of the dissertation. The introduction should contain a
clear and precise statement of the purpose of the entire group of manuscripts
in relation to a theoretically based overarching area of research. A
description of the significance and need for the research conducted for the
dissertation should be included in this chapter. A table that outlines the
purpose of each manuscript “chapter”, and its contribution to new knowledge
should be included.
CHAPTERS 2, 3, 4
The core of the dissertation is a
series of three data-based manuscripts (one manuscript per chapter) that
represent work completed during the student’s PhD program. Each manuscript
chapter should stand alone as a significant contribution that has been
submitted to a peer-reviewed research journal. Each manuscript chapter must
have a cover page that includes the paper title, a statement of each author’s
contributions, funding acknowledgements, submission history (dates for initial
submission, revision/resubmission, final disposition, etc. as applicable), and
full citation (including doi and PMID if applicable) if the manuscript has been
published.
Chapter 5
In this final chapter, the student
should succinctly summarize and integrate all of the findings from all of the
studies that were conducted for the dissertation, including overall strengths
and weaknesses/limitations of the research. This section should end with
specific conclusions based on the entire body of work that was carried out and
provide suggestions for future research. This important section should be
concise and complete because it may be the only section read by interested
parties not on the dissertation committee.
REFERENCES
References
to the literature should be confined to those sources actually cited in the
prior chapters (all references in the manuscripts do not need to be listed).
The purpose of listing references is to make it possible for readers,
especially committee members, to locate references, so accuracy is mandatory.
APPENDICES
Appendices
should include a copy of the consent form for human subjects research,
pertinent communications, copies of interview guides, protocols, measurement
instruments, and other documents directly relevant to the study that is the
basis for the dissertation. If it seems desirable to present tabulated raw data
or detailed descriptions or techniques or methodologies that are additional to
the chapters in the dissertation, these materials should be included as an
appendix.
COPYRIGHT
When
previously published copyrighted materials are presented in a dissertation, the
student must obtain a signed waiver from the copyright owner (usually the
publisher) and include it as an appendix in the final dissertation. Some
publishers do not allow the inclusion of previously published manuscripts to be
incorporated into the dissertation, but do allow pre-proof galleys to be
included. Students must contact the publisher about the intent to include the
paper in a dissertation prior to signing a copyright agreement for publication.